I have seven 20 week old Ancona, so I thought it would be a good idea to set the nest boxes up and put a fake egg in each box to try and start them laying in the right spot.I came out this morning and noticed them pecking at something out in the run.They have grabbed the fake egg and pecked it to pieces.Not off to a good start, I’m sure it wasn’t very appetising to them, and I hope they haven’t eaten much if any I also hope this doesn’t lead to egg eating when they eventually start laying. I will get rid of the polystyrene eggs and get some plastic ones to start with.Any thoughts or advice?

Chooks do like pecking at polystyrene... Not a good choice of material by the manufacturers..!

If your nest boxes are nice and cosy and secluded then they will choose to lay in there even if you have no fake eggs to guide them. To be honest I wouldn’t worry about using fake eggs. They’ll work it out. As far as pecking at their own eggs goes, I think you will just have to wait and see. I don’t think they will generalise this behaviour to their own eggs though - I think you should be ok.

The girls where still on peckish grower crumble, I was using the last of it up before moving onto layer pellets (which I have now done).Does anyone know if the above brand has a withholding period for eating the eggs?

They probably thought it was a fun toy, mine (light Sussex) like to peck everything they can get their hands/beaks on, including my shoes I used solid fake eggs, about the density of a golf ball, and they even pecked some scratches into them and they like to roll them around the coop sometimes. Luckily they are smart enough not to peck the real eggs.

They are now laying all over the place. Out in the run, under the perch. I’m hoping they get the idea soon that they should be laying in their cosy nest.I recently read an article in Australasian poultry saying Ancona lay where they are meant too, in the nest, mine must not have read the same article.I might try some golf balls, because from everything I have ever read and from past experience there is no reason for them not to use the nest.

Mine got the laying in nest boxes bit right from the start but they are the only breed who NEVER get to free range. By dusk they are settled 10 ft up a gum tree, all ready to descend at dawn to greet the foxes. In their pen they sleep perfectly happily on their roosts.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum